POSTED AT 02:16 PM 24-02-2019

Venezuela crisis: Deadly border clashes as Maduro blocks aid

Deadly clashes broke out in Venezuelan border towns on Saturday, as President Nicolás Maduro blocked humanitarian aid from crossing from Colombia and Brazil.

Troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who attempted to collect and transport the supplies.

A number of people were shot with live ammunition, human rights groups say. At least two people were killed.

The opposition wants the aid to go to people hit by the economic crisis, but Mr Maduro sees it as a security threat.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the attacks on civilians, which he blamed on "Maduro's thugs".

"Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due to these criminal acts. We join their demand for justice," he said in a tweet following the clashes.

Mr Pompeo also described the burning of some of the aid as "sickening".

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president and helped to organise the aid, condemned the action by security forces.

Mr Guaidó, who has been recognised as leader by dozens of nations, will meet US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday in Bogota, Colombia.

He is travelling there to meet leaders of the regional Lima Group, in spite of a travel ban imposed on him by Mr Maduro's government.

On Saturday evening, Mr Guaidó posted a tweet (in Spanish) which implored the international community to be "open to all options" in order to "liberate" Venezuela from Mr Maduro - who is continuing to resist all calls to stand down.

Deadly violence at the border

Mr Guaidó organised the collection of hundreds of tonnes of foreign aid at the country's borders. He gave the government a deadline of Saturday to allow the aid to be brought into Venezuela or vowed to have volunteers march it in themselves.

In response, President Maduro partly closed the country's borders with Brazil and Colombia, citing threats to security and sovereignty. On Saturday, Venezuelans civilians attempted to cross in order to get to the aid stores, which included food and medicine.

Images from crossing points across the country showed security forces firing tear gas at volunteers. Protesters burned outposts and threw projectiles at soldiers and riot police.

Rights groups say at least two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead in Saturday's clashes in Santa Elena de Uairen, near the country's border with Brazil. Another two were reported to have been killed on Friday.

Amnesty International has described the use of firearms against protesters as a serious human rights violation and a crime under international law.

There have also been reports of several aid trucks being burned - something Mr Guaidó said was a violation of the Geneva Convention.

At about 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Saturday, Colombia's government estimated the number injured at border crossings to be about 300. Journalists at the scene have reported severe injuries among protesters, including several who appeared to have lost their eyes.

Mr Guaidó visited the Tienditas bridge on the Colombian side of the border, where he addressed soldiers abandoning their posts - promising them "amnesty" if they joined the "right side of history".

At least 60 soldiers had defected by late Saturday, according to Colombia's migration service. But most of the military still appeared to be loyal to President Maduro.

A video posted on social media appeared to show four soldiers publicly denouncing the president and announcing their support for Guaidó. "We are fathers and sons, we have had enough of so much uncertainty and injustice," the soldiers said.

How has Maduro's reacted?

President Maduro continues to oppose Mr Guaidó's claim to the presidency and has ignored international calls to hold new elections. He has accused Mr Guaidó of being a "puppet", an "American pawn", a "clown" and an "imperialist beggar".

As protests got under way at Venezuela's borders, Mr Maduro staged a rally in Caracas. "Take your hands off Venezuela, Donald Trump," he told a cheering crowd, accusing the US president of using the aid as a means to invade the country.

Despite dozens of countries backing the opposition leader, Mr Maduro maintains the support of key economic allies including Cuba, Russia and China. The US is leading the international effort to pressure him, and has implemented a raft of financial sanctions against his government.

How did we get to this point?

Humanitarian aid is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing standoff between Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó.

Mr Guaidó, who is the leader of the country's opposition-dominated National Assembly, last month declared himself the country's interim leader. He has called Mr Maduro's rule constitutionally illegitimate because of alleged irregularities with the 2018 general election.

Venezuela has been in the grip of a political and economic crisis for several years. An out-of-control inflation rate has seen prices soar, leaving many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food, toiletries and medicine.

Mr Guaidó insists that citizens badly need help, while Mr Maduro views aid as a ploy by the US to invade the country. At least 2.7 million people have fled the country since 2015.